Brace for stools, chairs, or the like.



PATENTED SEPT. 1, I903.

No. 737,660. I

L. N. PR'ENTIGB.

'BRAOE FOR STOOLS, CHAIRS, OR THE LIKE. I

APPLICATION IILEDAUG. 20, 1902.

1510 MODEL.

m...l llll. 1

IO 6 WITNESSES:

n45 NORRIS Farm: 60, Pna'rom'na, wuxmm'ml, w. c.

UNTTED STATES Patented September 1 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS N. PRENTICE, OF FORT HUNT, VIRGINIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,660, dated September 1, 1903.

Application filed August 20,1902. Serial No.120|399. (N0 model.)

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS N. PRENTIOE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Hunt, in the county of Fairfax and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Braces for Stools, Chairs, or the Like; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to braces for stools or chairs; and it has for its object to provide a device of this nature which may be readily attached to a stool or chair of any type and which may be adjusted by manipulation of a single part to draw the legs inwardly or to release them.

It has been found in practice that the glue with which the rungs and legs of a chair are usually held in place soon dries and cracks, this cracking being intensified when the chair is subjected to sudden climatic changes. This defect is especially noticeable when the chair is used out of doors or under slight cover, as in camp; and it is to provide a cheap and simple means for holding the legs, seat, and rungs of the chair or stool together that is the main object of the present invention.

A further object of the invention is to provide a specific form of tension-plate which will permit of engagement of the tension-rods therewith without requiring riveting, screwing, or looping, the rods being held securely in engagement with the plate at all times.

Other objects and advantages of theinven tion will be understood from the following description.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like'numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the brace, the legs, rungs, and seat of a stool with which it is engaged being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a stool equipped with, the present invention, said section includingtwo diagonally opposite legs with their corresponding tension rods and the tension -plate and turnbuckle.

Referring now to the drawings, the present brace comprises a central or tension plate 5, including a central portion having four equidistant radiating fingers, through each of which latter is-formed a perforation 6, said perforations being at right angles to the upper and lower parallel faces of the tensionplate. After the formation of the perforations in the fingers the plate is dished, as shown, and in each of the perforations is engaged a tension-rod 8 by passing the rod downwardly through the perforation and then bending the body of the rod to lie upon the convex or upper face of the plate and extending outwardly and radially thereof and bending the end portion of the rod to lie against the under or concave face of the plate and extending inwardly and radially thereof. WVith this engagement of the tension-rods with the plate the rods are given abrupt bends or kinks, and they withstand all strains radially of the plate to which they are subjected in the use hereinafter described. Through the legs of the stool or chair are formed perforations 9, which extend in substantially horizontal planes, and through these perforations are engaged the outer or free ends of the tensionrods, said rods having washers 10 disposed upon their extremities, beyond which they are upset or riveted. Centrally of the tensionplate 5 is formed a perforation in which is engaged fixedly the lower end of a screw 11, with which is engaged a turnbuckle, and to the under side of the seat of the chair or stool is attached a plate 12, in which is engaged the upper end of a screw 13, which is also engaged with the turnbuckle, so that when the latter is rotated the screws Will be drawn toward each other and the tension-plate 5 will be moved in the direction of the attaching plate 12 to place the tension-rods under ten sion and draw the legs inwardly and upwardly and preventing disassembling of the various parts of the chair or stool affected.

It will be understood that in practice modifications of the specific construction shown maybe made and that any suitable materials and proportions may be used for the various parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It will be noted that the tension-rods where they leave the legs are bent upwardly slightly, so that the strain of the rod does not come against the Washer and rivet-head wholly, but in large part against the upper Wall of the perforation through the leg;

accidental withdrawal from the leg,and means for tensioning said rods.

2. In a chair or stool, the combination with the seat, of aplate connected thereto, a tension-plate having perforations therethrough, a turnbuckle connecting the plates, tensionrods passed downwardly through the perforations and bent at opposite sides of the plate to lie radially thereof and against the upper and lower faces respectively, the outer ends of the tension-rods being each bent at an upward angle and passed through a leg of,

the chair or stool, and having means at its free end for preventing Withdrawal from the leg.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LE WIS N. PRENTIOE.

Witnesses:

G. A. NEALE, GEO. C. SHOEMAKER. 

